Nor by the savage trump in the camp is rous'd.
Nor quails at the angry billows;
And shuns the forum, and the thresholds proud
Of citizens overweening.
But he the vine's glad upgrown progeny
Weds to the lofty poplars,
And with his curv'd knife pruning useless boughs,
Engrafts more hopeful scions:
Or in the vale's broad bosom views afar
The deep-voiced cattle roaming,
Or in pure jars the well-prest honey stores,
Or shears the helpless bleaters:
Or from the fields when Autumn rears her head
With mellow fruitage comely.
How joys he, plucking his engrafted pears
And grape that vies with purple.
To honour thee, Priapus! and thee, sire,
Silvanus, guard of landmarks!
Now beneath ancient holm he lists to lie,
Now in the clinging herbage.
In their deep banks the meanwhile glide the streams,
The birds moan in the thickets;
With trickling element pure babble the springs,
Inviting gentle slumbers.
"But when the wintry hour of thundering Jove
Its rainy snows amasses.
Then he the eager boar with scurrying hounds
Drives to the toils encircling,
Or with smooth pole spreads the thin nets aloft,
Snare for the greedy thrushes.
Or in his noose (sweet prize!) the frightened hare
And stranger crane imprisons.
"Mid such employ who not the evil cares
Forgets, which Love engenders?
But if, besides, a chaste and helpful mate
House and sweet children order,—
As Sabine woman, or the sunburnt wife
Of Appulan untiring.
Piles with old logs the sacred hearth, to greet
Her weary lord's arrival,—
Who, penning the kind flock in wattled crate,
Drains their distended udders,
Then wine of this year's vintage drawing, crowns
The board with unbought dainties;
Me not so much will Lucrine oysters please,
Or delicate char or turbot,
Should winter, rumbling in the Eastern waves,
Such to this sea have carried.
"No bird of Afric down my throat will glide,
No moorcock of Ionia,
Sweeter than olives pick'd from boughs which hang
With luscious treasure loaded,
Or mallows, wholesome to the sickly frame,
And meadow-loving sorrel,
Or kidling rescued from the wolf, or lamb
